Flashers

[HappySmiley]

I have heard about flashers, and that they look like camera lights going off in your peripheral vision. i would like to know if these flashers are "normal" to see sometimes, as when i shake my head fast, i can see them, but otherwise, i won't see them. is it normal to see them only when shaking your head in a fast motion? or is simply seeing them a danger?

note: i also see floaters as well, and am near sighted.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Smiley you should see an Eye MD to have a complete exam with dilations. Find one near you at www.aao.org

JCH MD

[HappySmiley]

sorry, i should have worded it better. what i meant was that if i were look at an object above me without moving my head, and only with my eyes go as high up as i can to see it, i see some kind of dark, circular object start to form.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

No the flahes often called arching is a entopic phenomena due to the eye moving faster than the vitreous.

I don't understand your second quesiton.

JCH MD

[HappySmiley]

ooh ok thanks for the advice. i'll know not to do that anymore, but is seeing flashes through that a sign of PVD or retinal detachment or is it available and can be seen by many people?

and (sorry for another question) when i look at objects, say for example try and look to the top of the sky without looking at my head, i see circular things. are these related to the flashes as well?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Yes you can cause flashes by moving and jerking your head due to vitreous traction. NOT A GOOD IDEA TO DO. You shouldn't be doing things that put vitreous traction on the retina especially if you're myopic. See a Eye MD for a complete exam. Find one at www.aao.org

JCH MD